Endless band conveyors

ABSTRACT

An endless band conveyor in which the load-bearing components of the band are cast or moulded modules each having a generally tabular, grating-like structure with portions at opposite sides at which the modules are hingedly connected to spaced transverse rod members of the band.

United States Patent [1 1 Harvey Nov. 27, 1973 ENDLESS BAND CONVEYORS3,669,247 6 1972 Pulver 3,191,743 6 1965 Rissl r 198 16 [76] InventorGemge Arthur Harvey 23 Wanneno" 3,651,924 3 1972 Homiier 198/189 RdBlakedown, England [22] Filed: Nov. 16, 1971 Primary Examiner-Richard E.Aegerter Appl. NO; 199,165

UNITED STATES PATENTS Franz 198/195 Attorney-S0lon B. Kemon et a].

[57] ABSTRACT An endless band conveyor in which the load-bearingcomponents 'of the band are cast or moulded modules each having agenerally tabular, grating-like structure with portions at oppositesides at which the modules are hingedly connected to spaced transverserod members of the band 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures- 1 ENDLESS BANDCONVEYORS This invention relates to endless band conveyors of the kindin which the band is constructed of loadbearing components hingedlyconnected to and extending between spaced rod members which extendtransversely of the direction of travel of the conveyor band. Suchendless conveyor bands are hereinafter referred to as of the kinddescribed. N

The load-bearing components of the conveyor bands of the kind describedhave hitherto generally been formed out of wire, or sheet or platemetal, worked to shape. inaccuracies and inconsistences in shape andsize do occur in such components which can give rise to difficulties inthe initial assembly of the components and when broken or worn parts aresubsequently to be replaced. These inaccuracies and inconsistences canalso promote wear and breakdowns in the conveyors, and increase theloading on the drives of the conveyors. In many applications of use theconveyor bands are required to be perforate, for examplefor the purposeof drainage, and to provide entirely flat supporting surfaces for thearticles they are to carry; This cannot readily be achieved with theknown metal conveyor components, and undesirable consequences can resultwhere in some applications of the conveyors it is an essentialprerequisite to the satisfactory working and treating of articlescarried along by the conveyor bands that the articles should besupported squarely on the conveyor bands. Another disadvantage of theknown metal components is that the strength of the components can beimpaired by the fact that they have to be worked to shape, withconsequent failures in use and breakdowns of the conveyor bands. Yetanother disadvantage is that the components are limited in the formsthat they can take.

An aim of the present invention is to provide an endless conveyor bandof the kind described in which at least some of the disadvantages setforth of the known bands are'avoided.

Thus according to one aspect of the present invention there is providedan endless conveyor band of the kind described wherein the load-bearingcomponents are modulated plastics modules disposed in transverse rowsacross the band, and each module has a perforate body of generallytabular form presenting 'a'flat loadsupporting surface, and at oppositesides of and integral with said body hinge portions of eye form throughwhich the transverse rod members pass, and which project from said bodylongitudinally of the band and below the level of said load-supportingsurface, said hinge portions presented by said modules in each saidtransverse row at one side of said transverse row being spaced apart bydistances complementary to the widths, that is the dimensions measuredtransversely of the band, of said hinge portions presented by saidmodules at the opposite side of said transverse row, and said hingeportions of said modules in each said transverse row fitting between,and engaging the same transverse rod members as, said hinge portions ofsaid modules in adjacent transverse rows. As the modules are mouldedtheir shapes can be very accurately formed and defined. This facilitatesinitial assembly of the conveyor and subsequent replacement of thecomponents of the conveyor. With the moulded modules now provided flatsupporting surfaces in the modules themselves may be achieved withoutdifficulty, and, because of the consistent accuracy of shape anddimensions which can be achieved, the surfaces of the modules cantogether present an overall supporting surface which is uniformly flattoo.

The perforate body of each module ensures good drainage away from themodule and enables passage of air through the module. The body may havea series of elongated slots in it. Such an arrangement is suitable for awide range of uses of the conveyor but in some instances it may bedesirable for the perforations of the body to be presented in some othermore appropriate way. The slots may extend partially over the hingeportions of at least one side of the module.

The body of each module may be formed with a series of spaced barportions the spaces between which provide the slots. The bar portionswill normally extend parallel to one another to define a grating-likestructure. Such an arrangement considerably reduces the flat surfacearea of the module and ensures good drainage when the conveyor band isused to carry wet articles. Where drainage is important the bar portionspreferably taper in cross-section towards their support surfaces, andthey may taper to such an extent that the supporting surface of each baris, or is little more than, a line. The supporting surfaces of thebarspreferably all lie in the same flat plane. it may be desirable inother instances also for the bar to be so tapered to allow and encouragematter to pass easily away from the supporting surface.

Conveniently the spaced hinge portions at one side of the modules arestaggered with respect to the hinge portions at the opposite side. Thusin the made-up band successive modules'of similar form can be alignedwith one another with the hinge portions intercalating at the hingedconnections with the transverse rod members.

Those modules which are at the ends of each transverse row of themodules may have at their outer edges, which form the side edges of theconveyor band, fixing flange portions to which side wall members may besecured along the sides of the band the side wall members projectingupwards above the level of the top surfaces of the modules. These fixingflange portions may be provided on the undersides of the modules attheir edges and serve also to stiffen the modules longitudinally. I

A further object of the invention is to provide a con veyor band whichis capable of travelling a sinuous path. To this end there is providedan endless conveyor band or the kind described wherein the load-bearingcomponents are moulded plastics modules disposed in transverse rowsacross the band, and each module has a body of generally tabular formpresenting a flat loadsupporting surface, and at opposite sides of andintegral with said body hinge portions of eye form having oval aperturesthrough which the rod members pass, the major diameter of each said ovalaperture extending longitudinally of the band and the minor diameterthereof being complementary to the diameters of the rod members, saidhinge portions of said modules projecting from said bodieslongitudinally of the band and those of said hinge portions which are atone side of said bodies being parallel-sided, that is to say side facesof said hinge portions through which said apertures open are parallel toone another, and those of said hinge portions which are at the oppositeside of said bodies have flared sides through which said apertures open,the flare being in the direction away from said bodies, and said modulesin said transverse rows of modules being disposed with saidparallel-sided hinge portions fitting between, and engaging the sametransverse rod members as, said flared-sided hinge portions of saidmodules in adjacent transverse rows.

Conveyor bands in accordance with the invention have a wide range ofapplications, and are particularly suitable for the situations whereaccuracy of shape and form of their load-bearing components isessential. There are other instances where they are a distinct advantageover the conventional conveyors. For example the conveyors are verysuitable for the food industry. Because they are plastics the modulescan be kept clean fairly easily, they do not suffer from problems ofcorrosion, rusting and the like to which metal components aresusceptible, and they are altogether far more hygienic to use than theknown metal load-bearing components of conveyors. Furthermore this canbe achieved at appreciably less'cost than would be incurred if it wasattempted to try to obtain a conveyor of all metal components which wasin any way comparable in its hygienic qualities. Anotheradvantage ofusing plastics modules is that it is possible to provide belts which arelighter than ones comprised of metal components, with consequentreduction in the drag on the driving gear, and thus the possibility offewer breakdowns.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided aload-bearing component for an endless conveyor band, comprising amoulded plastics module having a perforate body of generally tabularform presenting a flat load-supporting surface, and at opposite sides ofand integral with said body spaced hinge portions of eye form forreceiving transverse rod members of the conveyor band, said hingeportions projecting laterally from said body sides below the level ofsaid load-supporting surface, and said hinge portions at each side ofsaid body being spaced apart by distances complementary to the widths,that is the dimensions parallel to said body sides, of said hingeportions of the other side of said body.

According to yet another aspect of the. invention there is provided aload-bearing component for an endless conveyor band, comprising amoulded plastics module having a body of generally tabular formpresenting a flat load-supporting surface, and at opposite sides of andintegral with said body spaced hinge portions of eye form having ovalapertures adapted to receive transverse rod members of the conveyorband, the major diameters of said apertures extending at right angles tosaid body sides and parallel to said loadsupporting surface, and theminor diameters of said apertures being complementary to the diametersof the rod members which said apertures are adapted to receive, saidhinge portions projecting laterally from said body sides and those ofsaid hinge portions which are at one side of said body beingparallel-sided, that is to say side faces of said hinge portions throughwhich said apertures open are parallel to one another, and those of saidhinge portions which are at the opposite side of said body have flaredsides through which said apertures open, the flare being in thedirection away from said body, and said parallel-sided hinge portionsbeing spaced apart by distances complementary to the widths, that is thedimensions parallel to said body sides, of said flared-sided hingeportions.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of examplewith reference to the accompanying drawings in which: I

FIG. 1 is a plan view of part of a conveyor band in accordance with theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a moduie included in the part I of the bandshown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of an alternative form of module, and

FIG. 6 is a section on line 66 of FIG. 5.

The conveyor band of which a part is shown in FIG. 1 is composed ofload-bearing modules 10 moulded from plastics (for example glassreinforced nylon) which are hingedly connected to and extend betweenspaced rods 11 which extend transversely of the direction of travel ofthe conveyors band indicated by arrow T. Between each adjacent pair ofrods 11 there is a row of the modules 10 disposed side-by-side with oneanother across the width of the conveyor band.

Each module 10, as can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, is of basicallytabular form. It has an oblong rectangular body part 12 disposed so thatits longest dimension extends transversely of the conveyor band, that istransversely of the direction of travel of the band. Projecting from andintegral with the longer sides of the body part 12 are co-axial, equallyspaced eye portions 13 through which the rods 11 pass, thereby hingedlyconnecting the module to the rods. Externally the eye portions aregenerally cylindrical. Their circumferential walls are imperforate. Theeye portions 13 at each side of the body part 12 are spaced apart bydistances very slightly larger than the widths of the eye portions; thewidth of each eye portion being its dimension measured transversely ofthe conveyor band axially of the eye. The eye portions 13 at one side ofthe body part 12 are staggered with respect to those at the oppositeside of the body part. Hence, as shown in FIG. 1, the eye portions ofsuccessive, aligned, modules 10 along the length of the conveyor bandare able to intercalate at their hinged connections with the rods 1 1.As the eye portions 13 of the modules which engage each rod 11 fitclosely together they form in effect in combination a continuous sleevewhich covers the rod across the width of the band.

The external diameter of each eye portion 13 is approximately twice aslarge as the thickness of the body part 12, as can be seen in FIG. 3.The eye portions 13 are so formed with respect to the body part that thetop surface of the body lies in a plane tangential to the top of thecurvature of the cylindrical surface of the upper half of each eyeportion, and the lower half of each eye portion depends below the levelof the bottom surface of the body part.

The body part 12 of each module 10 is formed as a series ofequally-spaced parallel bars 14 which extend in the direction of travelof the conveyor band and are of kite-shaped cross-section, as shown inFIG. 4. The bars 14 give the body part 12 a grating-like appearance inplan. The top surfaces of the bars all lie in a com mon, flat plane.

Between the bars 14 elongated slots 15 are defined.

The slots 15 are in staggered pairs, there being one pair of slots 15opposite each eye portion. Only at their one end 16, FIGS. 2 and 3, arethe slots 15 of each pair directly opposite an eye portion 13, theiropposite ends 1'7 being disposed opposite a recess 18 between twoadjacent eye portions. The ends 16 of the slots of each pair opposite aneye portion 13 are extended over the eye portion as far as the top ofthe curvature of the cylindrical surface of the upper half of the eyeportions. The end 16 of each slot 15 is closed by a triangular part 16',FIG. 3, of the wall of the eye portion 13, with the result that the slotat that end is longer at the top surface of the body part 12 than it isat the bottom surface of the body part. The end 17 of each slot 14opposite the recess 18 between two eye portions 13 is closed off by awall portion 19 of the body part 12, FIG. 3, extending between adjacentbars 14, and which has a bevelled upper part 19 with the bevel adjacentthe slot so that at this end too the slot 14 is longer at the topsurface of the body part than at the bottom surface. The wall portion 19is spaced from the common axis of the adjacent eye portions 13 by adistance which is slightly greater than the external radius of the eyeportions. A narrow slot-like gap 20 is therefore left between the wallportion 19 and the eye portion 13 of an adjacent module engaged in therecess 18 next to the wall portion. The wall portion 19 mayalternatively be arcuately curved, its centre of curvature being on thecommon axis of the adjacent eye portions, but its minimum radius ofcurvature being greater than the external radius of the eye portions.Thus, in such an arrangement with the recess 18 between two eye portions13 of the module occupied by an eye portion of an adjacent module, inthe assembled conveyor band an arcuate gap is left between the curvedwall portion 19 at the recess 18 and the cylindrical surface of the eyeportion engaged in that recess.

The bars 14 as previously stated and as can be clearly seen in FIG. 4have kite-shaped cross-sections. Because of this the bars present a verysmall surface area which is virtually only a line at the top of the bodypart 12 of each module. This together with the slots 15 ensures gooddrainage of liquid away from the module when the conveyor band is usedto carry wet articles. The gaps 20 left between the wall portions 19 andthe eye portions aid the drainage. In addition'the slots 15 and the gaps2% allow air to pass freely through the conveyor band. i '7 On theunderside of the body part 12 of each module there is at one of the twoshorter sides thereof -a depending stiffening flange 21, FIGS. 3 and 4.The flange 21 strengthens the module in the direction of travel of theconveyor band. It depends to the level of the bottom of the curvature ofthe cylindrical surface of the eye portion 13 with which it merges atone of its ends. The flanges 21 of the two modules at opposite ends of arow of modules extending across the width of the conveyor band may alsoserve as fixing flanges to which plates or like members as indicated at22 in FIG. 4 may be bolted, or otherwise rigidly secured, which extendalongside the modules and project above the level of the top surface ofthe modules to provide side walls of the conveyor band. If desired, ornecessary, there could be stiffening flanges at both of the shortersides of each module, and in the case of the end modules the flangeswhich provide the fixing flanges for side wall plates or like membersmay be thicker than the other flanges.

For many applications of the conveyor it has been found to be convenientto have the transverse rods 11 spaced so that their axes are 50 m.m.apart. The modules thus have their eyes 13 at 50 m.m. centres. In oneexample in which the rods ll are so spaced, the rods have a diameter of7 m.m. The external diameter of the eyes 13 which receive those rods is14 m.m. The width of each eye 13 and of each of the recesses 18 betweenthe eyes is 12.5 m.m. The thickness of the rectangular body part 12 ofeachm'odule in this particular example is 6 m.m., and the longer sidesof the body part measure m.m. and the shorter sides '33 m.m. It will beunderstood that the rods 11 may be spaced at other distances apart, ifdesired, and that the modules may have dimensions different from thosementioned.

In the embodiment described, because of the relative widths of the eyeportions 13 and recesses 18 of adjacent modules of the assembledconveyor band, and the consequent close, without being tight, lateralengagement of the eye portions in the recesses, there is no, orvirtually no, 'room for relative lateral movement between the modules.There is no room either for relative longitudinal movement of adjacentmodules because the apertures of the eye portions 13 are large enoughonly to permit the rods 1 1 to pass through with just sufficientclearance to avoid binding. Hence in that embodiment the conveyor bandis restricted to straightline, or virtually straight-line, travel.

If a conveyor band is required which is able to travel along a sinuouspath, modules of the alternative form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be usedin the construction of the band. As before, each module has an oblongrectangular body part 12 and spaced eye portions 13, 13 along the twolonger sides of the body part with recesses 18, 18' respectively betweenthem. The body part 12 is similar to that in the previously describedembodiment and the arrangement of the eye portions 13, 13' is alsosimilar. The difference lies in the forms of the eye portions 13, 13'.

As can be seen the eye portions 13, 13' instead of being substantiallycylindrical are of substantially regular oval cross-section with ovalcross-section apertures 23, the major'diameter of the oval sectionextending in the direction at right angles to the adjacent longer sidesof the body part and parallel to the plane of the supporting surface ofthe body part; As illustrated the major diameter-of each aperture 23 isapproximately twice as long as the minor diameter. The eye portions 13at one side of the body part 12 are parallel-sided, that is to say theside faces of the eye portions through which the apertures 23 open andwhich are adjacent to the recesses 18 are parallel to one another, ascan be seen in FIG. 5. The eye portions 13 at the other side of the bodypart have flared sides so that they are of symmetrical dove-tail shapein plan. At their widest parts the dove-tail eye portions 13 are spacedapart by distances slightly greater than the widths of theparallel-sided eye portions 13 to enable the parallel-sided eye portionsof another'similar module to be engaged in the recesses 18 between thedove-tail eye portions. The recesses 18 between the parallel-sided eyeportions 13 are just wide enough to accommodate the dove-tail eyeportions 13' of a similar module.

In the assembled conveyor band the oval section apertures 2 3 of the eyeportions 13, 13' are engaged by round-section rods as before to hingeadjacent modules together. The rods are of complementary diameter to theminor diameter of the apertures 23. At the hinge between adjacentmodules the parallel-sided eye portions 13 of one of the modulesintercalate with the dovetail eye portions 13' of the other module.Because the apertures 23 with which the hinge rods engage are oval themodules are able to move relative to the rods and hence to one anotherin the longitudinal direction of the conveyor band. Furthermore the ovalapertures 23 in combination with the intercalation of the dovetail eyeportions 13' with the parallel-sided ones permit some relative angularmovement between adjacent modules in a planecommon to both modules,whilst avoiding undue relativemovement between the mod ules transverselyof the conveyor band. The relative movements permitted enables theconveyor band to travel along a sinuous path if required.v

The two forms of module described and illustrated may be injectionmoulded in a two part mould the general parting line of which is at theplane of the underneath surface of plane common body part 12 of eachmodule, although the mould half in which the lower halves of the eyeportions l3, 13' are formed will have parts which project from thatgeneral line to define the lower sections of the slots 15 between thekite-shaped bars 14 of the body part. A general draft taper of the orderof 3 is conveniently provided. Core pins define the apertures of the eyeportions.

I claim:

1. An endless conveyor band constructed of spaced transverse rod membersand load-bearing components extending between and hingedly connected tosaid rod members, wherein the improvement comprises said load-bearingcomponents being moulded plastics modules disposed in transverse rowsacross said band, and each having a body of generaly tabular formpresenting a flat load-supporting surface, and at opposite sides of andintegral with said body hinge portions of eye form having oval aperturesthrough which said rod members pass, the major diameter of each saidoval aperture extending longitudinally of said band and the minordiameter thereof being complementary to the diameters of said rodmembers. said hinge portions of said modules projecting from said bodieslongitudinally of said band and those of said hinge portions which areat one side of said bodies being parallel-sided, that is to, say sidefaces of said hinge portions through which said apertures open areparallel to one another, and those of said hinge portions which are atthe opposite side of said bodies have flared sides through which saidapertures open, the flare being in the direction away from said bodies,and said modules in said transverse rows of modules being disposed withsaid parallel-sided hinge portions fitting between and engaging the sametransverse rod members as, said flared-sided hinge portions of saidmodules in adjacent transverse rows.

2. An endless conveyor band according to claim 1 wherein each saidmodule has a plurality of said parallel-sided and flared-sided hingeportions, said hinge portions being spaced apart and the spacing betweensaid parallel-sided hinge portions being complementary to the widths,that is the dimensions measured transversely of said band, of saidflared-sided hinge portions at their widest parts.

3. An endless conveyor band according to claim 1 wherein said hingeportions of each said module are disposed below the level of saidload-supporting surface, and have integral depending parts extendingbelow said body, and said body of each said module has at its undersideat least one integral depending stiffening flange extending from side toside of said body longitudinally of said band and joined to saiddepending part of at least one of said hinge portions.

4. An endless conveyor band according to claim I wherein said body ofeach said module has a series of elongated slots therein extendinglongitudinally of said band, and which extend partially over said hingeportions.

5. A load-bearing component for an endless conveyor band, comprising amoulded plastics module having a body of generally tabular formpresenting a flat load-supporting surface, and at opposite sides of andintegral with said body spaced hinge portions of eye form having ovalapertures adapted to receive transverse rod members of the conveyorband, the major diameters of said apertures extending at right angles tosaid body sides and parallel to said load-supporting surface, and theminor diameters of said apertures being complementary to the diametersof the rod members which said apertures are adapted to receive, saidhinge portions which are at one side of said body being parallel-sided,that is to say side faces of said hinge portion through which saidapertures open are parallel to one another, and those of said hingeportions which are at the opposite side of said body have flared sidesthrough which said apertures open, the flare being in the direction awayfrom said body, and said parallel-sided hinge portions being spacedapart by distances complementary to the widths, that is the dimensionsparallel to said sides, of said flared-sided hinge portions.

6. An endless conveyor band constructed of spaced transverse rod membersand load-bearing components extending between and hingedly connected tosaid rod members, wherein said load-bearing components are mouldedplastics modules disposed in transverse rows across said band, therebeing a plurality of said modules in each said transverse row, and eachmodule has a perforate body of generally tabular form comprising aseries of spaced bar portions extending lengthwise of the band betweenwhich open slots are defined and which bar portions together present aflat supporting surface of said body, and integral with and projectingfrom opposite sides of said body lengthwise of said band spaced hingeportions of eye form through which said transverse rod members pass andpartially over which said bar portions and slots extend, said hingeportions each having an imperforate circumferential wall, an externalsurface tangentially of which said supporting surface extends and a partof its eye form which depends below said body, and said body having atits underside at least one integral flange extending from side to sideof said body longitudinally of said band and joined to said dependingpart of at least one of said hinge portions, and said hinge portionspresented by said modules in each said transverse row at one side ofsaid row being spaced apart by distances complementary to the widths,that is the dimensions measured transversely of said band, of said hingeportions presented by said modules at the opposite side of saidtransverse row, said hinge portions of said modules in each saidtransverse row intercalating with, and engaging the same transverse rodmembers as, said hinge portions of said modules in adjacent transverserows, and said hinge portions which engage with each said transverse rodmember defining in effect in combination a continuous sleeve whichcovers said transverse rod member across the width of said band.

7. A load-bearing component for an endless conveyor band, comprising amoulded plastics module having a perforate body of generally tabularform comprising a series of spaced bar portions defining slotstherebetween and extending between two opposite sides of said body andwhich bar portions together present a flat supporting surface of saidbody, and integral with and projecting from said opposite sides of saidbody spaced hinge portions of eye form partially over which said barportions and slots extend, said hinge portions each having animperforate circumferential wall, an external surface tangentially ofwhich said supporting surface extends and a part of its eye form whichdepends below said body, and said hinge portions at each of saidopposite sides of said body being spaced apart by distancescomplementary to the widths, that is the dimensions parallel to saidbody sides, of said hinge portions at the other side of said body, andsaid body having at its underside at least one integral flange extendingtransversely of said opposite sides and joined to said depending part ofat least one of said hinge portions.

8. An endless conveyor band constructed of spaced transverse rod membersand load-bearing components extending between and hingedly connected tosaid rod members, wherein said load-bearing components are mouldedplastic modules disposed in transverse rows across said band there beinga plurality of said modules in each said transverse row, each module hasa rectangular shaped body part with a series of spaced parallel barswith open slots therebetween defining a grate-like appearance, spacedeye portions constituting hinged portions integral, with and projectingfrom opposite sides of said body lengthwise of said band through whichsaid rod members extend, one end of said slots extending over the eyeportion of the hinge to the top of the curvature of the cylindricalsurface defining the eye portion, the opposite end of said slotsterminating in a wall portion of said body part interposed betweenadjacent bars with the upper surface of said wall portion being beveledwhereby said slots are longer at the top surface of said body part thanat the bottom surface, said hinged portions of each said module havingintegral depending parts extending below said body part, and said bodypart of each said module has at its underside at least one integraldepending stiffening flange extending from side to side of said bodylongitudinally of said band and joined to said depending part of atleast one of said hinged portions, said hinged portions of said modulesin each said transverse row intercalating with and engaging the sametransverse rod members as said hinged portions of said modules inadjacent transverse rows, and said hinged portions which engage witheach said transverse rod member defining in effect in combination acontinuous sleeve which covers said transverse rod member across thewidth of said band.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF vCORRECTION Patent No.3,7'flh75 Dated November 7, 975

-Inventor(s) GEORGE ARTHUR HARVEY v I It is certified that error appearsin the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Column 1, line Ah "modulated" should read --moulded--" Column '7, line16 "plane common" should be deleted and Y 1 ---the--- inserted; a

Column 7, line 31', "generaly" should read ---generally---.

Signed and sealed this 50th day bf July 197a.

(SEAL) Attest: J v MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN AttestingOfficer v Commissioner of Patents I Foam PO-1050 (10-69) I Y USCOMWDC6037M,"

W ".5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE "I! 0-36-31.

1. An endless conveyor band constructed of spaced transverse rod membersand load-bearing components extending between and hingedly connected tosaid rod members, wherein the improvement comprises said load-bearingcomponents being moulded plastics modules disposed in transverse rowsacross said band, and each having a body of generaly tabular formpresenting a flat loadsupporting surface, and at opposite sides of andintegral with said body hinge portions of eye form having oval aperturesthrough which said rod members pass, the major diameter of each saidoval aperture extending longitudinally of said band and the minordiameter thereof being complementary to the diameters of said rodmembers. said hinge portions of said modules projecting from said bodieslongitudinally of said band and those of said hinge portions which areat one side of said bodies being parallel-sided, that is to say sidefaces of said hinge portions through which said apertures open areparallel to one another, and those of said hinge portions which are atthe opposite side of said bodies have flared sides through which saidapertures open, the flare being in the direction away from said bodies,and said modules in said transverse rows of modules being disposed withsaid parallel-sided hinge portions fitting between and engaging the sametransverse rod members as, said flared-sided hinge portions of saidmodules in adjacent transverse rows.
 2. An endless conveyor bandaccording to claim 1 wherein each said module has a plurality of saidparallel-sided and flared-sided hinge portions, said hinge portionsbeing spaced apart and the spacing between said parallel-sided hingeportions being complementary to the widths, that is the dimensionsmeasured transversely of said band, of said flared-sided hinge portionsat their widest parts.
 3. An endless conveyor band according to claim 1wherein said hinge portions of each said module are disposed below thelevel of said load-supporting surface, and have integral depending partsextending below said body, and said body of each said module has at itsunderside at least one integral depending stiffening flange extendingfrom side to side of said body longitudinally of said band and joined tosaid depending part of at least one of said hinge portions.
 4. Anendless conveyor band according to claim 1 wherein said body of eachsaid module has a series of elongated slots therein extendinglongitudinally of said band, and which extend partially over said hingeportions.
 5. A load-bearing component for an endless conveyor band,comprising a moulded plastics module having a body of generally tabularform presenting a flat load-supporting surface, and at opposite sides ofand integral with said body spaced hinge portions of eye form havingoval apertures adapted to receive transverse rod members of the conveyorband, the major diameters of said apertures extending at right angles tosaid body sides and parallel to said load-supporting surface, and theminor diameters of said apertures being complementary to the diametersof the rod members which said apertures are adapted to receive, saidhinge portions which are at one side of said body being parallel-sided,that is to say side faces of said hinge portion through which saidapertures open are parallel to one another, and those of said hingeportions which are at the opposite side of said body have flared sidesthrough which said apertures open, the flare being in the direction awayfrom said body, and said parallel-sided hinge portions being spacedapart by distances complementary to the widths, that is the dimensionsparallel to said sides, of said flared-sided hinge portions.
 6. Anendless conveyor band constructed of spaced transverse rod members andload-bearing components extending between and hingedly connected to saidrod members, wherein said load-bearing components are moulded plasticsmodules disposed in transverse rows across said band, there being aplurality of said modules in each said transverse row, and each modulehas a perforate body of generally tabular form comprising a series ofspaced bar portions extending lengthwise of the band between which openslots are defined and which bar portions together present a flatsupporting surface of said body, and integral with and projecting fromopposite sides of said body lengthwise of said band spaced hingeportions of eye form through which said transverse rod members pass andpartially over which said bar portions and slots extend, said hingeportions each having an imperforate circumferential wall, an externalsurface tangentially of which said supporting surface extends and a partof its eye form which depends below said body, and said body having atits underside at least one integral flange extending from side to sideof said body longitudinally of said band and joined to said dependingpart of at least one of said hinge portions, and said hinge portionspresented by said modules in each said transverse row at one side ofsaid row being spaced apart by distances complementary to the widths,that is the dimensions Measured transversely of said band, of said hingeportions presented by said modules at the opposite side of saidtransverse row, said hinge portions of said modules in each saidtransverse row intercalating with, and engaging the same transverse rodmembers as, said hinge portions of said modules in adjacent transverserows, and said hinge portions which engage with each said transverse rodmember defining in effect in combination a continuous sleeve whichcovers said transverse rod member across the width of said band.
 7. Aload-bearing component for an endless conveyor band, comprising amoulded plastics module having a perforate body of generally tabularform comprising a series of spaced bar portions defining slotstherebetween and extending between two opposite sides of said body andwhich bar portions together present a flat supporting surface of saidbody, and integral with and projecting from said opposite sides of saidbody spaced hinge portions of eye form partially over which said barportions and slots extend, said hinge portions each having animperforate circumferential wall, an external surface tangentially ofwhich said supporting surface extends and a part of its eye form whichdepends below said body, and said hinge portions at each of saidopposite sides of said body being spaced apart by distancescomplementary to the widths, that is the dimensions parallel to saidbody sides, of said hinge portions at the other side of said body, andsaid body having at its underside at least one integral flange extendingtransversely of said opposite sides and joined to said depending part ofat least one of said hinge portions.
 8. An endless conveyor bandconstructed of spaced transverse rod members and load-bearing componentsextending between and hingedly connected to said rod members, whereinsaid load-bearing components are moulded plastic modules disposed intransverse rows across said band there being a plurality of said modulesin each said transverse row, each module has a rectangular shaped bodypart with a series of spaced parallel bars with open slots therebetweendefining a grate-like appearance, spaced eye portions constitutinghinged portions integral with and projecting from opposite sides of saidbody lengthwise of said band through which said rod members extend, oneend of said slots extending over the eye portion of the hinge to the topof the curvature of the cylindrical surface defining the eye portion,the opposite end of said slots terminating in a wall portion of saidbody part interposed between adjacent bars with the upper surface ofsaid wall portion being beveled whereby said slots are longer at the topsurface of said body part than at the bottom surface, said hingedportions of each said module having integral depending parts extendingbelow said body part, and said body part of each said module has at itsunderside at least one integral depending stiffening flange extendingfrom side to side of said body longitudinally of said band and joined tosaid depending part of at least one of said hinged portions, said hingedportions of said modules in each said transverse row intercalating withand engaging the same transverse rod members as said hinged portions ofsaid modules in adjacent transverse rows, and said hinged portions whichengage with each said transverse rod member defining in effect incombination a continuous sleeve which covers said transverse rod memberacross the width of said band.